[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49677-49679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24873]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-NM-234-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 series 
airplanes. This proposal would require modification of the emergency 
evacuation slide/raft system. This proposal is prompted by issuance of 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil 
airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent the container release cable of the emergency 
evacuation slide/raft system from jamming, which could result in the 
inability to open the emergency exit doors or to correctly deploy the 
emergency evacuation slide/rafts, and consequent delay or impedance 
passengers exiting the airplane during an emergency.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-NM-234-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 49678]]

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 98-NM-234-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 98-NM-234-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 series airplanes. The 
DGAC advises that during an evacuation test of certain airplanes 
equipped with Air Cruisers emergency evacuation slide/rafts, the 
evacuation slide/rafts failed to deploy correctly. These failures were 
attributed to detachment of the slide/raft of the container release 
cable from the girt of the slide/raft due to excessive forces applied 
to the cable when it became jammed in a gap between adjoining 
components of the slide/raft system. Investigation revealed that the 
existing slide/raft system design may allow a gap to develop between 
the packboard and pinblock assembly in which the container release 
cable can become jammed. Such jamming of the container release cable 
can result in the inability to open the emergency exit doors or to 
correctly deploy the emergency evacuation slide/rafts. These 
conditions, if not corrected, could impede or delay passengers from 
exiting the airplane during an emergency.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-25-0465, dated October 31, 
1997, which describes procedures for modification of the emergency 
evacuation slide/raft system. The modification includes the 
installation of reinforcement discs at both ends of the container 
release cable assembly, and the installation of retaining screws to 
secure the packboard skin to the pin block assembly. (Air Cruisers, the 
manufacturer of the emergency evacuation slide/raft system, has issued 
Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88, Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, as an 
additional source of service information for accomplishment of the 
modification.) Accomplishment of the actions specified in the Airbus 
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified 
unsafe condition.
    The DGAC classified the Airbus service bulletin as mandatory and 
issued French airworthiness directive 98-121-243(B), dated March 11, 
1998, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes 
in France.

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of 
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD 
action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered 
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of 
the actions specified in the Airbus service bulletin described 
previously.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 24 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and that 
the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $1,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $37,440, 
or $1,560 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under 
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

[[Page 49679]]

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 98-NM-234-AD.

    Applicability: Model A300 series airplanes equipped with Air 
Cruisers emergency evacuation slide/rafts having part numbers (P/N) 
D30457-Series, serial numbers (S/N) 1001 through 2268 inclusive, or 
P/N D30477-Series, S/N 4001 through 4211 inclusive, on which the 
actions described in Air Cruisers Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88, 
Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, have been not accomplished; 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent the container release cable of the emergency 
evacuation slide/raft system from jamming, which could result in the 
inability to open the emergency exit doors or to correctly deploy 
the emergency evacuation slide/rafts, and consequent delay or 
impedance passengers exiting the airplane during an emergency, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the emergency evacuation slide/raft system, in accordance with 
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-35-0465, dated October 31, 1997.

    Note 2: The Airbus service bulletin references Air Cruisers 
Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88, Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, as an 
additional source of service information for modifying the emergency 
evacuation slide/raft system.

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
an evacuation slide/raft system having Air Cruisers P/N D30457-
Series, S/N 1001 through 2268 inclusive, or P/N D30477-Series, S/N 
4001 through 4211 inclusive, on any airplane, unless the slide/raft 
system has been modified in accordance with this AD.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 98-121-243(B), dated March 11, 1998.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 10, 1998.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24873 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U